Attachment for pianos



March 17, 1931. c, M, VQN GiZlNSKY, JR 1,796,350

ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS Filed Nov. 2. 1929, 3 Sheets-Sheet l gwuanto'o WHY Yn Gizinsky'cfra March 17, 1931. c VON g zms y JR 1,796,350

ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS Filed Nov. 2. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Casz'mir M 1612 Gizinsky, :71.

Marci i 17, 1931.

C. M. VON GIZINSKY, JR

ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS Filed Nov. 2. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES CASIMIR M. VON GIZINSKY, J'B.,

or SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS Application filed November 2, 1929.

The present invention relates to improvements in attachments for pianos and has reference more particularly to a device for mechanically actuating the keys of the piano for the purpose of enabling beginners to become interested and to aid them in learning the art of playing various pieces of music.

One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide a playing attachment that can be readily and easily set up in position without necessitating any alterations of the conventional piano, the playing mechanism being at all times positive and efficient in its operation.

A further and important object resides "in the provision of a rotatable cylinder having rows of perforations to accommodate removable lugs or pins which are adapted to co-operate with feelers mounted upon ex- 0 tension keys that carry fingers which actuate the keys of the piano and effect the playing of the music.

A further object is to provide a playing attachment for pianos whereby any piece of music that is selected may be played by arranging the removable lugs or pins in a predetermined manner around the perforated rotatable cylinder, the selected piece of music being capable of being played as many times as desired.

A still further object is to provide a playing attachment for pianos of the above mentioned character which will not only be educational and interesting to beginners but also to advanced pianists as well and also to singers.

Another object is to provide an attachment of the above mentioned character which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, strong and durable and further well adapted for the purposes for which it is designed.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the nature of the invention proceeds when taken into consideration with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the same;

Serial No. 404,313.

Figure l is a top plan view of a conventional piano showing my improved player attachment associated therewith;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the extension keys, showing the feeler and the depending finger associated therewith;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional View therethrough Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view 1of the frame that supports the extension reys;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional View through the supporting frame, one of the ex tension keys bein shown in the clotted lines;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the outer end portions of a few of the extension keys mounted on the outer portion of the frame Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of one,

of the lugs or pins that is detachably associated with the rotatable perforated cylinder Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view through the perforated cylinder;

Figure 10 is a detail showing the manner in which one of the lugs or pins is mounted on the perforated cylinder;

Figure 11 is a detail showing the support for one end of the rotatable cylinder; and

Figure 12 is an elevational view of the frame supporting structure.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration, is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates generally a piano of the conventional construction, the keys thereof being indicated at 2. My improved attachment comprises a supporting frame denoted generally by the numeral 3. This frame includes the inner and outer longitudinal strips 4 and 5, respectively, the outer strip 5 being of greater width than the inner strip Transverse strips 6 interconnect the outer end portions of the longitudinal strips 4 and 5. The inner strip 4 is of a greater length than the outer strip 5, and the ends of the inner strip project beyond the outer edges of the end strips 6, as clearly shown in the drawings.

Transversely disposed blocks 7 are attached to the respective ends of the inner strip 1- for rest upon the upper face of the respective end blocks of the piano 1 and if desired, suitable clamps 8 may be provided for rigidly attaching'the inner portion of the frame to the piano. It is to be understood, however, that the clamps 8 may be dispensed with as the frame can be properly supported in position through the medium of the supporting legs 9, the upper ends of which are fitted within suitable openings provided therefor in the block 10 that is secured to the under side of the intermediate porticn of the outer strip 5. A guide strip 11 is secured on the inner strip 4:- and extends from one of the end strips 6 to'the opposite-end strip. The superposed strips are formed with registering openings 12 and 13 respectively, and these openings are preferably arranged directly over the respective keys-2' and are adapted to receive the depending fingers 14 that are carried by the inner ends of the extension keys 15. These extension keys which are in the form of narrow strips of wood or other suitable material extend transversely across the frame 3 and the outer ends of the extension keys are formed-with openings 16 to accommodate the outwardly projecting pins 17 arranged on the outer strip 5 of the frame 3. It is, of course, to be understood that the openings 16" are of such size as to permit the upward and downward'movement of theextension keys and normally these extension keys are disposed at a slight inclination, as indicated by the dotted lines in- Figure 6 The fingers 14 that extend through the respective pairs of registering openings 12 and 13, normally rest upon the underlying keys 2. Arranged on the upper face of the interme diate portion of each extension key 15 is what I term a feel'er block 18 and it will be observed that the inner end portion of each feeler block is slightly bevelled. The pur-' pose of this feel-er block will be hereinafter and more particularly described.

Form ng a salient part of the present invention is the rotatable music magazine or cylinder 19. This cylinder comprises a pair of spaced eniddiscs 20and extending across the peripheral edges'of the discs 20 are the elongated strips 21, said strips-beingsecured around the peripheral' edges of'the end discs in any appropriate manner, and the strips are preferably arranged in abutting'relation as clearly shown in Figures 9 and 10; Each strip is formed with a series of spaced openings22 for the reception of removable lugs or pins, one of which is shown generally at 28 in Figure 8'.

Ashaft'24 extendscentrally through the end discs 20, the ends of the shaft projecte ing beyond the respective ends of the cylinden 19 and theout'e'rend portions of the shaft 24 are journalled' in suitable bearings that are arranged for vertical adjustment in the slotted upper ends 25 of the supporting standards 26, which standards are arranged at the respective ends of the supporting frame 3 and upon referring to Figure 12, it will be noted that the standards 26 are interconnected by the cross bar 27, the lower ends of the standards being provided with floor engaging bases 28. a

Any appropriate means may be employed for actuatingthe shaft 24, whereby to rotate the music magazine or'cylin'der' 19, and in the present instance, 1 have shown a hand crank 29 as being detachably secured on one end of the shaft 24 i The rotatable cylinder is mounted for rotation longitudinally of the frame 3 and is disposed above the vertical movable extension keys 15. The lugs orpins 23 that are removably associated withthe perforated. cylinder 19 consist of a block 30 having one endthereof bevelled and the outer face of the wooden block is provided with a leather covering 81,- while extending from the inner face of the central portion of the block 30 is a peg 32- The peg may vary in size, depending upon he character of the notes. The pegs are removably fitted within predetermined openings 22-. v I

in assembling the attachment for the playing of a piece of music, the parts are arranged as shown in l i'guresl and 2 of the drawings, and the removable lugs or pins 28 are arranged in a predetermined manner around a perforated cylinder19. A guide or director be employed. to render it easier to play the piano and such a guide may consist of a strip of wood that is marked o-if to showwhere the lugs or, pins are to be' placed on the magazine or cylinder 19, and each of the" holes in the cylinder may be marked so that a beginner can readily insert the proper lug or pin inthe proper hole. 7

A-ifter the lugs or pins have been placedaround. the perforated cylinder; the shaft 24 is then actuated to impart rotation to the cylinder and as the cylinder with the lugs or pins carried thereby rotates, the feelers will be selectively actuated to in turn operate their respective extension keys, forcing the same downwardly and the depending fingers of the keys that are depressed will actuate the keys of the piano to play themusic. In this manner, a piece of music will be mechanical ly played 'andthe same pi ce may be played many times as desired. The timing is taken care of by the use of either short'or'long' lugs or pins. The diameter of the perforated cylinder may vary depending upon the length of the piece that is to be-p'layed. It will thus be seenthat I have provided a means for rendering the automatic playing of a piano educational as well as interesting and beginners as well as advanced pianist-s can use my attachment very efiicientl-y and effectively.

ion

The simplicity of my construction enables the parts to be readily and easily assembled and disassembled and the structure will at all times be positive and efiicient in its operation.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In a player attachment for a piano, a series of extension keys having their inner ends disposed over the respective piano keys, supporting means for said extension keys, a rotatable cylinder having openings arranged in the peripheral face thereof, and mounted across said extension keys, lugs detachably supported around the rotatable cylinder in predetermined holes, and feelers carried by the intermediate portions of the extension keys with which said lugs selectively engage to actuate the extension keys and simultaneously depress the respective piano keys, said extension keys being mounted for vertical swinging movement attheir outer ends.

2. In a player attachment for a piano, a series of extension keys, a supporting frame therefor, depending fingers carried by the inner ends of said extension keys that normally rest upon the respective piano keys, said extension keys being mounted for vertical swinging movement at their outer ends on the frame, a horizontal rotatable cylinder mounted across the intermediate portions of the extension keys, and lugs removably and selectively arranged around the peripheral face of the rotatable member for engagement with the respective extension keys to actuate the same and said fingers to depress the piano keys, as and for the purpose described.

3. In a player attachment for a piano, a series of extension keys, a supporting frame therefor, depending fingers carried by the inner ends of said extension keys that normally rest upon the respective piano keys, said extension keys being mounted for vertical swinging movement at their outer ends on the frame, a horizontal rotatable cylinder mounted across the intermediate portions of the extension keys, and lugs removably and selectively arranged around the peripheral face of the rotatable member, and feelers carried b the extension keys for co-operation with the lugs to effect the actuation of said extension keys and the depending fingers to depress the respective piano keys, as and for the purpose described.

4. In a player attachment for a piano, a series of extension keys, a supporting frame therefor, depending fingers carried by the inner ends of said extension keys that normally rest upon the respective piano keys, said extension keys being mounted for vertical swinging movement at their outer ends on the frame, a horizontal rotatable cylinder mounted across the intermediate portions of the extension keys, lugs removably and selectively arranged around the peripheral face of the rotatable member, feelers carried by the extension keys for co-operation with the lugs to effect the actuation of said extension keys and the depending fingers to depress the respective piano keys, and guide means for the vertically movable depending fingers.

5. In a player attachment for a piano, a frame, the inner end portion thereof being disposed across the piano keys, supporting means for the frame, a series of extension keys pivotally mounted at their outer ends on the outer end portion of the frame, said extension keys being disposed transversely across the frame, depending fingers carried by the inner ends of the extension keys and normally resting upon the respective piano keys, feelers arranged on the upper faces of the intermediate portions of said extension keys, a rotatable cylinder arranged horizontally across the intermediate portions of the extension keys, supporting means for the cylinder, said cylinder being formed with a series of openings in the peripheral face thereof, and lugs removably fitted in predetermined openings in the cylinder and adapted to selectively engage the respective feelers to move the extension keys and the fingers carried thereby downwardly and depress the respective piano keys.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CASIMIR M. VON GIZINSKY, JR. 

